Introduction
There’s no way you could visit Kerala and miss out on meeting its most majestic residents- the elephants. In God’s Own Country, these gentle giants are a must-see. With that in mind, I knew I had to meet an elephant, and the idea of riding one felt like the perfect cherry on top. During my stay in Varkala, I asked around for elephant parks, sanctuaries, and orphanages. The problem? Prices were inflated because I was on my own, and the group tours were either fully booked or required more travel to North Kerala. Just when I was about to give up, I stumbled upon the Kaveri Elephant Park in Paravur. The reviews seemed genuine, so I decided that on day three of my Kerala trip, I’d give it a shot. Even though directions were unclear and local advice was mixed, I went for it anyway.
My Third Day in Kerala
I checked out of my place in Varkala early, asked the guy at the reception to get me a rickshaw, and headed straight for the Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station. With a cup of coffee in hand from a nearby restaurant, I asked about the next train to Paravur and waited for it to arrive. The short 10-15 minute train ride was over before I knew it, and soon I found myself at Paravur Station, ready to start the adventure.
I stepped out and flagged down a rickshaw to take me to the Kaveri Elephant Park, which was about a 15-20 minute ride. I got there just as the park opened, and since it was a weekday, I was the first and only visitor at that time. A guide was assigned to show me around, but my main reason for being there was a personal encounter with an elephant.
Meeting Lakshmi
Then she arrived—“Lakshmi,” the only female elephant in the park. My exhaustion melted away as soon as I saw her, and my eyes lit up. I’d never been this close to an elephant, one of the animals I hold dearest. My emotions ran wild; I couldn’t hold back and immediately decided to go for a ride.
With clear instructions in mind, I climbed onto Lakshmi and enjoyed every moment. I let my inner child run free, laughing and squealing with excitement. After the ride, I had the joy of feeding Lakshmi her morning snack—a whole watermelon. I took countless pictures, wanting to capture every second of this special moment.
More to Explore
Once Lakshmi was back with the other elephants, I got a chance to see Arjun, the youngest elephant in the park. He was also the tallest, heaviest, and had the most strikingly beautiful tusks. Besides elephants, the park had other animals like emus, other varieties of birds, reptiles, and even a small aquarium.
As lunchtime approached, I grabbed a simple veg toast sandwich from the park’s cafeteria and relaxed on a swing in the garden. Just when I thought the excitement was over, I found myself witnessing a baby python’s feeding time. I even tagged along to fetch its meal, a white mouse from the storeroom. I’ll admit, I felt sorry for the little mouse, but that’s nature’s way, I suppose.
Time to Say Goodbye
As the day came to a close, it was time for me to move on. I called the same rickshaw driver who had dropped me off earlier and headed back to Paravur Station, my mind buzzing with the day’s events. Next stop? Trivandrum, with more adventures awaiting.
Stay with me as I continue this journey through the less-traveled paths of Kerala, and if you haven’t already, check out my earlier posts about my first two days in Varkala before heading to Paravur.